DEAD LAST COLLECTIVEwhere creativity meets community

Across the board, creativity is just careful destruction. As poets, we dissolve comfortable thoughts on what’s important, or maybe on what’s possible. As painters, we rid the world of empty canvases, replacing blank space with ideas. As musicians, we do away with overused chords and simplified rhyme schemes. In art as a whole, we examine what exists and determine how we can best alter it to change the universe for the better.

I’m Dominique and I create.

That sounds suspiciously similar to an introduction at an Artists Anonymous meeting, but that’s the reality of...me. Creativity is my default mode. I’ve been a songwriter for eight years; a poet, author, and spoken word artist for four; a voice actor for four; a fledgling photographer for almost one; and an incredibly amateur visual artist for maybe eight months. Oh, and 96% of my free time is dedicated to either reading or singing. Loudly. Simply put, I’m a raging fan of all things right-brain.

Before any of that arose in me, I was just a curly-haired pastor’s kid who liked words. Some things never change. I definitely have, though. You and I are still at the “hi, my name is…” stage, so let’s start slowly: I’m an artist. I’m an introvert. I’m a Christian. And if you’re not one of or any of those, I appreciate you just the same. Lately, everyone seems immersed in a war of opposites and it’s tiresome. There are plenty of white cops who don’t hate minorities. I know countless extroverts who don’t like small talk. Some of the loveliest and most fluid conversations I’ve ever had were with engineers. There’s no shortage of non-Christians who don’t have agendas. People just differ sometimes, and there’s art in that (note: this is not me saying all differences are good).

This is the part where I get a taste of my own medicine. When Carissa approached me about becoming a part of Dead Last Collective, I was stunned. Honestly, I read through her message (which was not short) several times and wondered if it was real for a while. Then, I spent quite some time wondering why she asked me. Wondering whether I was qualified. Whether I was good enough. If you’re somehow unaware, Carissa Engle is a ridiculously talented painter, craftswoman, singer, and [whatever else you can think of, probably]. Her boyfriend, Jesse, who’s the founder of DLC, is a brilliant graphic designer and photographer. He’s got his own clothing brand, for goodness’ sake. And, while I don’t know Hayley Gray personally, I’ve seen her work and it can’t accurately be described as less than amazing. Remember, Carissa was asking me about working alongside ALL THREE OF THEM. As in, people would be able to see my work and theirs. Do I need to say it? I still will. That was terrifying.I thought. I prayed. I weighed. And, in the end, I figured it was worth the risk. Because the four of us are very different and, again, there’s art in that.

Hey, this part is important. God didn’t phone me and give me the go-ahead. Jesus didn’t materialize across the table and say, “Why not?” I wasn’t visited by an angel in phosphorescent white who nodded his approval and disappeared. Sometimes, God wants us to act based on what we know about Him. Personally, I know that God is thrilled when we use the talents we’re given, or the skills we’ve developed. And He’s never going to be upset when we work together to create beautiful things. By the way, you’re in for a whole mess of beautiful things, so stay tuned.

Oops. This post was supposed to be about me and who I am. It sort of was, I suppose. And, to be fair, my work will probably speak for me in that regard better than a blog post can. Suffice it to say that I’m insaaaaaanely excited to see how this venture pans out. Hopefully, I’m able to encourage you or challenge you or affect you positively in some way very soon. And I’m sure I’ll be encouraged and challenged, too. Or, to put it another way...I look forward to us being carefully destroyed together. Sound good?